The synergistic neurovascular electro-healing of infected diabetic wounds by a multifaceted absorbable ion-conductive adhesive patch
Abstract
Diabetic wound care is challenging, primarily due to impeded vascularization, nerve damage, chronic infection, and weakened immunity. Electrostimulation is an efficient approach for the modulation of skin cellular regenerative activities essential for diabetic wound treatment. We demonstrate that a polycationic adhesive patch made of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) crosslinked with the quaternary ammonium methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium (MT) acts as an ion-conductive dressing for the fast healing of infected diabetic wounds. Injectable, transparent, and absorbable GelMA-MT adhesive hydrogel killed pathogens, enhanced fibroblast proliferation, blood vessel formation, and neurite outgrowth while strongly adhering to the wound site, easing real-time injury monitoring, and being absorbed after treatment. Most importantly, electrostimulation with GelMA-MT significantly accelerated infected wound healing in a diabetic animal model by promoting vascularization, nerve repair, and polarization of macrophages to anti-inflammatory phenotype. This study describes an effective and realistic strategy for treating complex chronic wounds with a multifaceted adhesive patch harboring optimal functionality.